We can project all sorts of things onto an invisible being and call it “god”. When it cuts to the chase, either God has revealed Himself/Herself/Itself to humanity, or we are left to own devices to try to discover who and what God is or even if God exists.
Fair enough?
The Great Deception
Yet, there is a book that claims to have the answers. It is a book that people have tried to naysay, marginalize and even destroy throughout history. Yet, this same book claims to be revealed knowledge – from God!
This book of course is the Bible. And it says:
9And the huge dragon was cast down and out–that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him.
~ Rev 12:9 (Amp; emphasis mine)
Do you really grasp what that is saying? The ESV says Satan is “the deceiver of the whole world”!
The world since Adam and Eve has tried to invent “god” in their own image. They project onto “god” their own desires, lusts, passions and beliefs rather than allowing the transforming power of God Almighty to alter their lives. In other words, they try to change God rather than the other way around!
Why? Because people deep down inside are resistant to change. They like their sins too much. Instead of following God, they say, “Follow your heart.”
9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9, King James Version)
Satan, the enemy of God, uses human passions and weaknesses to lead people astray. It is his philosophy to “follow your heart”!
The Bible makes it clear that sinners will follow their own lusts (Ro 1:24; 2Ti 4:3; 2Pe 3:3; Jude 16, 18; Jas 1:13-14). Satan uses our own desires against us (1Co 7:5; 1Th 3:5).
Not Many Chosen
I’ve already written that we seem to assume God is trying to start some megachurch. Many in the world think that “bigger is better”. We see worldwide evangelistic efforts from various organizations and beliefs, and many assume that because they are large, they must be blessed by God. However, as I recently wrote, we are told that the Church that Jesus founded would be a “Little Flock”.
If the Bible tells us something once, shouldn’t we pay attention? If Jesus spoke something, shouldn’t we sit up? What if Jesus mentions something twice? Is it worth our attention then?
16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Matthew 20:16, King James Version)
14For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:14, King James Version)
Sorry to have to tell you this, but when you put it all together, a clear picture of vast deception arises. The majority of the world is deceived. What is worse is that they will take others with them.
14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:14, King James Version)
Lawlessness
Many profess to be “Christian”, and yet they are not. They claim to follow Christ, that is to obey Him, but they do not. Instead, what is they profess? What will Christ’s response be when He returns?
23"And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; A)’>A)’>(A)DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
~ Mt 7:23 (NASB)
“Lawlessness” or “iniquity” (KJV) comes from G458 “anomia”. It literally means “without law” or the state of living as though the law does not exist.
Protestants constantly argue that we are “no longer under law”, “we are under grace” or even that “the Law was nailed to the cross”.
Red Letters Again
I keep coming back to: Are we going to pay attention to the red letters in our Bibles? Or, are they red so that we know which ones to ignore?
That’s an important question to ponder. In fact, it is important enough for it to have it’s own part to this entire question.